Ten chapters! Thanks to all my readers and all those who favorite/followed and especially those that took the time to review.
Ch. 10 Take My Hand We'll Make it I Swear
(OWEN)
"Are you sure?" I question when Clare tells me she wants me to get in the shower with her.
"Yes I'm sure, I'm nervous but I'm sure," she says.
I don't say another word, I don't want her to change her mind, I just undress and pull back the shower door. She bites her lip nervously and is covering her breasts with her arms. I lean back against the wall and look at her, snow white skin and voluptuous curves, I smile at the sight. She grins back and releases her lip; she still keeps her arms covered and looks a little nervous however.
"You're in charge, I won't do or say anything you don't want me to," I assure my wife.
"I know and it's one of the many reasons I love you. When Bryce touched me it brought back feelings of the rape and I want them to go away, I feel safe with you even when I'm naked and vulnerable in the shower," she tells me and I grin. Timidly she takes a step forward, slowly releasing her breasts with one arm and holds her hand out for mine. I remove one arm from behind me and take her hand. "I want to start to replace his touch with yours, the sense memory of him with you. When I close my eyes and feel someone's touch I want to feel yours and not his. I don't know how much I'm ready for but I want to feel you and more than just holding me."
I lean forward to kiss her, moving slow so that she has plenty of time to back away if she's not comfortable. She leans forward to and our lips touch for a quick and tender kiss, when I look at her she's smiling. She's still nervous but she's more relaxed, taking a step forward she puts her other hand on my chest and lays her head next to her hand. Her body presses to mine and I wrap my arm around her. I hold her in bed every night while she is clad in only pajamas and I'm only wearing boxers but this is different, we aren't wearing anything and I force myself to think of non-sexy things so I don't get turned on and frighten her. She seems to be taking solace in my embrace, however she's shivering slightly and I can't tell if it's because she's scared or cold.
"You should shower, I'll be right here," I tell her.
She looks up at me and stands on her tiptoes joining our lips for a sweetly passionate kiss. I release her and she steps back into the water, I watch her quickly wash her hair and body. When she sees I'm getting horny she bites her lip but doesn't look scared, a little uneasy but not scared. I expect her to just step out of the shower but she steps forward coupling our lips again, her body doesn't press against mine this time instead her hand softly grips my growing erection and she caresses it gently. I moan against her lips, she parts her mouth for me and my tongue glides in deepening the kiss as my body shakes slightly at her touch. The faster she stokes me the more I tremble and the more passionate our kiss gets. I fantasize about making love to her the first time, how incredible she'll feel inside, how she'll moan and her back will arch. Soon I'm ready to climax and I break from the kiss to moan and call her name, my head back against the tub wall as I quiver and cover her hand in my seed. I stay leaning against the wall while she washes her hand in the water.
"You didn't have to do that," I tell her after a minute to breathe.
"I wanted to and I didn't think about Bryce once," she tells me proud of herself for taking that step.
"Good I wish you never had to think about him again, guess we should get ready for school," I comment.
"Yeah I just wish I didn't have to go to school and face Eli," she complains looking frightened now.
"If he gets within ten feet of you I'll rip his throat out with my teeth," I assure her wrapping her in my arms.
"That was a rather graphic image but I already knew you'd protect me, I love you Owen," she smiles.
"I love you," I smile and kiss her nose before turning off the water.
We get out; dress and I eat a quick breakfast while I force her to drink some tea because she says she's not hungry. When we get to school we tell the secretary Clare had a bad case of morning sickness and she writes us a note. Since first period is over in ten minutes we don't go to our first classes and go to our lockers instead.
"We're going to have to tell the others something about Bryce I just don't know what. I don't want them to know about the rape, I don't want anyone to question that you're the father," Clare says in nearly a whisper, even though no one else is in the hall, while she gets books from her locker.
"We can tell them whatever you want, Adam knows but we can tell the others that you went on a date with Bryce or you dated him in secret last year. They think we've been dating in secret," I remind her.
"Let's just tell them he's a crazy stalker," she replies and I nod.
We go to my locker and I get out books, then I walk her to her math class. She doesn't have any classes with Eli but he goes to the school and I don't want him anywhere near her. I wait in the classroom with her until Dave and Connor come in and sit at their desks.
"If Eli gets anywhere near her tell me and hurt him," I tell Dave.
"Sure," he nods and looks at Clare for an explanation but she just bites her lip.
I kiss her and walk out going to my business leadership class, Bianca's already in there with Drew and Dallas. Drew was never friends with Fitz and Dallas has only seen him around The Dot but Bianca was friends with Fitz and I feel like she should know about him.
"Hey where were you this morning? Is Clare okay?" Bianca asks as I sit down at my desk.
"She's okay but she woke up early after a bad dream, she went outside for some air and went to the cottage. Eli and Bryce followed her in and threatened her sh…"
"Who the hell is Bryce?" Drew questions.
"He's stalking her but that's all I can tell you and now he's working with Eli. She was scared this morning so we were late to school," I inform them.
"Great that's all Eli needs some other crazy stalker to help him stalk Clare," Drew remarks.
"Yeah and I want to make sure Eli stays far away from Clare," I comment just as Eli, Fiona and Katie walk into class.
"I can't believe you're going to move Clare into that dump Owen," Eli smirks sitting at his desk.
"Shut up Goth boy we'll clean it up before we move in, and fix it up and if you go near my wife again I will kill you as slowly and painfully as possible," I warn him.
"She shouldn't be married to you, she was my girlfriend and the slut cheated on me," Eli grouses.
"You watch your fucking mouth when you talk about my wife!" I growl at him about to get up from my desk and knock his head off but Dallas puts a hand on my shoulder.
"Kill him after class when the teacher isn't watching," Dallas says in a low voice and I sit back down.
I make it through class but I don't pay much attention I'm envisioning all the things I'd love to do to Bryce and Eli. When class let's out Eli darts out of class before I can get to him, Dallas, Drew, Bianca and I head to our lockers to put away our books.
"Hey B," I call to her, she has the locker across from mine, she closes it and comes over. "Yesterday when we got home from the appointment there were flowers at the door with a card that said she's mine. Clare was scared and I was angry, we kind of argued about it and in the midst of arguing Clare had stomach pains, I was worried and took her to the hospital, she was bleeding but they said she was okay. When we were about to leave though we saw Fitz being brought in by ambulance, he'd been beaten really bad and stabbed. We stayed for a while but he was in surgery and I had to get Clare home," I inform Bianca.
"Fuck what the hell happened? Is he okay?" Bianca exclaims and her voice is loud enough that it attracts the attention of Drew and Dallas.
"What's up?" Drew inquires putting his arm around Bianca.
"Fitz is in the hospital because he was beaten and stabbed. We don't know why and we don't know who did it," I enlighten them.
Dallas asks who Fitz is and Drew asks how I know so, I tell them about having to take Clare to the hospital yesterday while we walk to the steps to meet Clare for lunch. Adam is with her and so is Dave, they join us for lunch and we all eat in the garden. While we eat we give Dallas, as well as Luke and Becky who join us, a briefing on Fitz.
"I want to go see him after school," Clare speaks up when we're done.
"I know I want to see him to," I nod.
"Yeah I think I'll come with you guys if you don't mind," Bianca says.
"Of course not he's your friend too I just hope he's okay," Clare replies.
We finish lunch and talk turns from Fitz to getting the cottage cleaned up and fixed up. After lunch Clare and I have a spare and we get our homework from parenting class and start working on it. While concentrating on her homework she seems to be distracted from thoughts of Bryce, Eli and even Fitz. She finishes her homework before me and her mind begins to wander, I can see it in her eyes and know by the way she bites her lip as she stares blankly at her now finished homework.
"Fitz, Eli and Bryce, the baby or fixing up the house?" I query and she looks at me.
"Huh?" She inquires.
"Which one put that worried look on your face?" I ask her.
"Eli and Bryce, I thought they might just take me when they came in the cottage this morning," she says and I put my arm around her.
"I will not let them hurt you or get near you again, we'll get an alarm and cameras, I'll have the team patrol the house," I tell her and she giggles.
"I don't think they'd do that but I do feel safe with you," she replies kissing my cheek.
"I'm not doing a very good job of keeping the stress off you am I?" I comment.
"You're doing a wonderful job, it's not your fault Eli and Bryce are insane and won't just let us be happy. It's not your fault that I'm pregnant or that Fitz is in the hospital, you can't shoulder the blame for everything," she tells me.
"Yes I can I'm the guy it's what we do," I refute and she pinches my side.
She stays wrapped in my arm while I finish up my homework from business leadership class and by the time the bell rings we're both done with our homework for our first two classes. I walk her into her broadcast and print production class which she has with Adam, Bianca, Luke, Bo and Ingvar so I know she'll be well protected. I kiss her at the door and go to auto shop, Eli's already in the class but so is the teacher so I can't kill him right now.
"You know I'm going to enjoy taking what I never got from her once she's living with Bryce where she belongs," Eli says in a taunting voice. I don't care who's watching I turn around grabbing him by the shirt and slam him into the table!
"If either of you go anywhere near my wife I wi…"
"Mr. Milligan," the teacher calls cutting me off and stopping me from pounding Eli into the table, "what is going on?"
"Nothing Sir," I reply picking Eli up and shoving him away from me.
"Eli please return to your station," the teacher says while Eli gives me a gloating smirk.
"What was that about?" Jake inquires walking into class with Mo.
"He's nuts and he's threatening Clare," I inform her stepbrother.
"That figures, well Dad and I will be over this weekend to start on the reservations and Mo's helping out," Jake tells me and I smile at him.
"Great we'll take all the help we can get, hopefully getting the cottage ready will take some of the stress off Clare," I comment.
I already know the Torres clan is coming as are most of the team, Dave, Jenna, Alli, Connor, Wes and of course Bianca. I'm hoping to convince Clare not to do anything but supervise; maybe I can even send her with my mom and Tris for some shopping. She's been so stressed and I know she'll work hard but I don't want to put any more stress on her body.
(CLARE)
"Come on Doll let's go find your husband and go visit Fitzy in the hospital," Bianca says putting an arm around my shoulders when class lets out.
"We'll walk you out to the steps," Adam tells me. I already told him about Eli and Bryce coming into the cottage this morning and he's barely left my side all day. Luke, Bo and Ingvar nod and they all come with us out to the steps, they stay with us and Owen comes out with Drew, Dallas, Jake and Mo a moment later.
"Here take my car to your place I'll come over after," Bianca says to Drew handing him her keys.
"We'll drop her off, see you guys," Owen comments putting his arm around me and we walk to his car.
"Uh how is Tris getting home?" I question when we get in his car.
"He's doing homework at Maya's we can pick him up after dropping B off," Owen informs me.
We drive to the hospital, walking in with Owen's arm around me and Bianca at my other side. I'm trying not to but after Bryce and Eli's surprise visit this morning I feel like they're everywhere. At least they can't get to me in a hospital, I don't think.
"We're looking for Mark Fitzgerald's room," Owen tells the reception nurse.
"Are you family?" She asks.
"We're the closest thing he's got," Bianca responds.
"Room 16 but you can't stay very long he's still pretty weak," she tells us.
Owen nods and we go down the hall finding room 16, Owen opens the door and I gasp. Fitz's face is swollen; he has an oxygen tube in and in IV, a heart monitor on his finger. His covers are pulled up to his chest but I can see where at least on surgical incision is. Despite all the bruises on his face he looks pale, his eyes are closed and I'm not even sure he's conscious but when we go in he opens his eyes.
"Wha…" Fitz tries but his throat is dry and his voice gravely. He coughs and then winces in pain, getting even more pallid and I squeeze Owen's hand watching Fitz struggle to breathe. He closes his eyes again taking a couple of breaths while we slowly go to the side of his bed, Fitz opens his eyes and speaks again, this time in raspy whisper, "What are you guys doing here?"
"Clare and I saw you get brought in yesterday," I tell him.
"So the rumors are true," Fitz comments and his voice is a little stronger this time.
"If you're talking about Clare being pregnant with Owen's kid and the two of them being forced into a marriage by her mom then yeah the rumors are true," Bianca nods. Leave it to Bianca to cut straight to the point and not dance around anything. "Now what the hell happened to you?"
"My stepbrother owes some money to his dealer and told him to get it from me," Fitz informs us and then stops to take breath. Knowing that Fitz's stepbrother intentionally put him in a situation that could have gotten him killed sickens me. "They jumped me yesterday as I was walking home from work, tried to fight, there were too many of them and one had a knife, don't remember too much," he tells us breaking for long breaths and sometimes to wince in pain.
"That little fuck!" Bianca exclaims.
"You'll be okay won't you?" I question.
"Doc said I'll be in the hospital for a couple of weeks probably, guess I should tell work I won't be in. They had to operate on the collapsed lung and one of the other stab wounds cut into something, I can't remember now but they said it caused a lot of internal bleeding. They said I need to take it easy for a few days when I'm out of here but I'll be fine after enough rest," he informs us, his voice was stronger this time but he still had to pause to take a few breaths.
"Does your family even know you're here?" I ask Fitz and he shakes his head.
"Didn't think anyone did until you three walked in," Fitz says.
"What about the people at your church? Where are you going to recover?" I inquire.
"I don't know, maybe Pastor Cliff will let me stay in the church," Fitz replies.
"No you can't recuperate in a church no one would be around to help you, you'll move in with us," I inform Fitz.
"Uh he will?" Owen questions.
"No I c…" Fitz begins.
"Yes he can move into your old room as soon as the cottage is ready for us. He'll be able to recover there and besides I'll feel safer with another strong guy around," I assert.
"Clare's right we're moving into the cottage in the back, hopefully it will be ready for us to move in within the next couple of weeks. Plus it couldn't hurt to have someone else around with Bryce and Eli making threats. I'll have to clear it with my parents but it should be okay," Owen says.
"Thanks that's cool of you guys," Fitz smiles he looks tired no, "who the fuck is Bryce?"
"I'll explain some other time I think we should go and let you rest, we'll come back," I tell Fitz.
"Yeah I'm pretty tired," he says with a yawn.
We say goodbye to Fitz and leave him to rest getting back in Owen's car. Bianca spends the whole drive to the Torres house angrily talking about Steve and how he's a no good drug addict and put Fitz's life in danger. Owen parks and we get out going into the basement with her.
"How's Fitz?" Drew asks.
"He'll be okay, he was beaten real bad and stabbed, he had a collapsed lung and a lot of internal bleeding. He'll be in the hospital for a couple of weeks and when he gets out he'll be moving in with us," I enlighten them.
"Uh are you sure that's a good idea?" Adam asks.
"He'll be moving into Owen's old room once we're in the cottage," I clarify.
"Plus it couldn't hurt to have another guy at the house who knows how to fight considering what Eli and Bryce pulled this morning," Owen remarks.
"Yeah good point and when Clare gets more pregnant maybe he can help out with stuff, running errands and all that, especially if you're getting a job and going to be working," Drew points out.
"Yeah I hadn't thought about that but I'm sure he will and I won't want Clare to be alone. We should probably get to my house in time for dinner we have to talk to my parents about getting an alarm and security lights and letting Fitz move in," Owen says.
"We'll see you guys tomorrow," Adam waves and the others say goodbye.
We go out to Owen's car and he starts driving to Maya's house to pick up Tristan, I reach over taking his hand and interlacing our fingers. When we reach Maya's house he gets out and knocks on the door, a few seconds later Tris comes out carrying his backpack. He gets in the car and Owen drives the three of us home, Tris gets out and goes right inside, Owen and I linger in the car looking all around before we cautiously get out. Veronica is home and making dinner, we go back to our room and put our stuff down. We have some time before dinner so I get out my math homework but Owen doesn't have homework for auto shop. He sits on the bed looking up security systems and outdoor security lighting until his mom calls us to dinner.
"There's a couple things I…I mean Clare and I want to talk to you about," Owen tells his parents when we're all sitting down to eat and they all look at us. "Clare's ex-boyfriend and this other guy she went on one date with are stalking her now, they don't like she's with me and they want to torment her. This morning she woke up from a bad dream and went out to the back for some fresh air. She went into the cottage, they followed her in and threatened her, they didn't hurt her but I found her in there crying and very shaken," Owen informs my family.
"Oh my should we call the cops?" Veronica asks.
"No," I say quickly and in a sharp tone, "no I don't think calling the cops will do anything. I would like to get a security system though, something simple but they came on the property with everyone home. An alarm and security lights, not entirely sure how we'll pay for it yet but maybe we can extract some money from my mother."
"I still think we should talk to the cops but we won't force you and we certainly want you to feel safe. I know how scary new motherhood is and you have extra stress now. You two look into alarm systems and figure out how much it will cost to install and keep every month and we'll discuss paying for it. We want you to feel safe," Veronica tells me and I smile at her.
"Owen have you started looking at jobs?" His dad questions and Owen looks up from his food.
"Honestly with everything going on no but I'll start on Monday. There is one more thing, you know Fitz was in the hospital, still is actually and will be for a couple of weeks. His stepbrother didn't pay his drug dealer and he told them to collect the money from Fitz, he was beaten and stabbed when he tried to fight back. He'll be okay but Clare…and I don't think he should go home; he's obviously not safe there. Since we'll be moving into the cottage we thought he could move into my room. Clare will feel better with someone else around and I know Fitz will protect her. I'm sure he'll pay rent and everything once he can go back to work, and help out around the house," Owen says.
Veronica and Nick exchange a look; Tris is just eating quietly and hasn't looked up from his plate since we sat down. I'm not sure if he's just trying not to be noticed or just doesn't have an opinion on any of this.
"Fitz can move in but there will be some conditions of course. I would say we should talk to his mom but I'm not sure it matters to her," Nick comments and I nod.
"Great thank you I'll feel a lot better, we'll visit Fitz tomorrow after school and tell him," I smile.
We spend the rest of dinner discussing what still needs to be done at the cottage and how to get Owen's room ready for Fitz. After dinner Owen and Tris do the dishes and I go back to Owen's room to finish my math homework. Owen comes back when he's done in the kitchen; I'm on the bed looking at security alarms on my laptop since I finished my homework. They aren't exactly cheap and we still have to pay for utilities and baby stuff, not to mention we're supposed to be saving for an apartment in a little over a year when hopefully I'll be going to Columbia.
"No don't look stressed we'll figure it all out I promise you," Owen says putting his arms around me.
"Everything costs money and you know how expensive raising a baby is, we talked about it in parenting class. How are we going to do this?"
"We have help, my parents won't be charging us rent and utilities won't be that much. I'll find a job and as soon as it's summer I can work full time and all next year too. Besides we'll have a baby shower and get a lot of the stuff we need for the baby. My grandparents will buy us a bigger bed as a wedding present and Mom sent off announcements a lot of my relatives have been asking what they can get us as a wedding present," Owen informs me.
"Really? That's nice of them that will help," I comment.
"Yeah it will and we'll figure out the rest, we're not alone in this. While everyone is over here working on the cottage on Saturday I want you to go shopping for a new bed with my mom and Tris and not stress," Owen insists and kisses me before I can even try and argue.
When he takes his lips away he closes my laptop and puts on the TV, we watch TV and the fact that I got up so early begins to wear on me. I get very tired and fall asleep halfway through a movie, I wake up when Owen lifts me up to pull down the covers and tuck me in.
"Sorry I fell asleep," I yawn.
"You're allowed to do that," Owen says and I can hear the grin on his lips.
I sit up and start taking off my clothes; I can hear Owen doing the same in the now dark room. I get all of my clothes off and almost ask Owen to turn on the lights so I can get pajamas and then, much like in the shower this morning, I find that I want something else.
"Owen will you sleep naked tonight?" I request.
"You want me to sleep naked?" He repeats quite surprised.
"I want us both to sleep naked, I think. I might jump out of bed as soon as you're naked body is next to mine but I want you to hold me and I want to feel you," I tell him slowly now that I'm saying out loud I'm not as sure.
"Okay sure just tell me if you get scared or uncomfortable," Owen says.
I'm already naked so I just get under the covers, Owen gets in with me and I can feel the warmth of his body. I move over slowly, rolling onto my side and draping my arm over Owen. He hasn't moved or said a word, he's waiting for me. I tell myself I always sleep with him in nothing but boxers and this isn't much different. Of course I'm usually wearing pajamas but when I lie down with my head on his chest and my breasts on his skin it actually feels oddly comforting in a way and not scary like I thought it would be. I let out a breath and relax into my husband; even putting my leg over his, Owen puts his arm around me and kisses the top of my head.
"Are you okay?" Owen questions.
"More than okay I wish we could do this every night," I yawn and Owen chuckles, "What?"
"We're married we can do this every night if you want," Owen points out.
"Then I want to, I feel safe with you and I like the feel of your skin on mine. I thought I'd be petrified after Bryce but I'm not it's comforting and sensuous, I like this feeling and I love you Husband," I tell him.
"I love you too wife," Owen smiles.
I pick my head up finding my husband's lips in the dark and kissing him with tender loving passion.
Update next Wednesday starting with Clare and Owen going to see Fitz at the hospital and Owen finds a job.